I saved 100,000 points and $200 on a hotel stay with this 1 booking tweak
I just had a two-night weekend getaway that cost over 100,000 points less than it used to cost.
It also came with, essentially, a complimentary dinner thanks to a $100 credit we used for food, along with some pretty indulgent daily breakfasts for two at no additional cost.
Oh, and the best part? I still earned some Marriott Bonvoy points and elite status credits for the stay, too. And because of my Marriott Platinum Elite status, we even got access to the on-site club lounge.
If you're waiting for the catch, I totally get it. You probably should be with the way things go these days.
But there's no catch — there's just the reality that the relatively new Chase Points Boost feature, which has been added to cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) this year and can make your points worth up to a fixed 2 cents in value each, really shouldn't be overlooked or underestimated, especially when paired with Chase's The Edit hotel collection and benefits at eligible hotels such as the JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort.
That's especially true since Chase's The Edit hotels are pretty reliably a part of the Points Boost list of booking options that stretch your points and offer elitelike perks.
Over 100,000 points saved
My recent two-night stay at the JW Marriott in Anaheim, California, would have cost 166,000 Marriott Bonvoy points if I had booked with points already in my Marriott account or transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards at a 1:1 ratio.
However, since the hotel was a part of the Points Boost offerings, each Chase Ultimate Rewards point used was worth 2 cents toward the stay, dropping the points rate for the two-night stay to around 59,000 points.
Because the hotel was a Points Boost booking option with Chase, as indicated below, it also meant spending 20,000 fewer Chase points than it otherwise would have cost me using points from my Sapphire Reserve. (While we are on the topic, the Sapphire Reserve arguably has a best-ever offer available right now.)
Related: Why I'm obsessed with the new Points Boost option
Over $200 in benefits enjoyed
This being a new great way to book trips for fewer points would have been enough for me to be thrilled, but since the hotel is part of Chase's The Edit, it came with valuable perks, too.
In this case, we both got a complimentary full daily breakfast, which consisted of either the full buffet or an entree, a side and a beverage at the hotel's restaurant.
Special shoutout to both the breakfast burrito and the chilaquiles. On paper, the cost for each of these two breakfasts for the two of us was around $100 per day, though odds are we would have found somewhere to eat for less if it wasn't going to be covered by this perk, so I'll value each of those breakfasts for two at $50 here.
Booking via Chase's The Edit also got us a $100 property credit that we used for a mix of drinks and dinner one night at the bar. I'm not one to turn down a complimentary meal — in this case, a poke bowl and a fried chicken sandwich — so this was a pretty darn excellent perk just for booking via Chase.
We also received a "welcome amenity" in our room thanks to booking through The Edit. It was small but appreciated: a note, sparkling water and a few macarons.
All told, for our two-night stay, we enjoyed over $200 in on-site additional benefits just by booking via Chase's The Edit program.
Over 3,000 Marriott points and elite night credits earned
Usually, when you book a hotel stay via a third-party site, you aren't eligible to earn points or even sometimes use your elite status perks.
But when booking via Chase's The Edit, things can work differently. You will see if the stay is eligible within that hotel loyalty program at booking, as indicated in this case by the "Marriott Bonvoy Eligible" designation below.
I was able to add my Marriott Platinum number at check-in — the hotel even proactively asked for it.
You can also potentially add your number via Chase's website. This integration resulted in over 3,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and two elite night credits earned on the stay.
Transparently, I'm not 100% sure how the system landed at that number, though I'm assuming it's some of the incidental and on-property charges that qualified rather than the full base rate, whether by my intent or accident. But it was still nice to earn something.
It's also worth mentioning here that our lounge access benefit, thanks to my Marriott Platinum status, was also honored. This enabled us to grab some sodas, waters, snacks and desserts, and honestly spend very little out-of-pocket cash on food and drinks the entire weekend.
Bottom line
Chase's Points Boost has changed how I approach using (and earning) points for some trips.
This is especially true for trips when the hotel we want is in a hotel loyalty program that doesn't have a fixed award chart, like Marriott Bonvoy, and falls pretty high on the points price spectrum using the program's own points. However, when the cash price for a property falls in a $400 to $600 per night range, which is common for somewhat upscale properties within the Westin or J.W. Marriott brands, at 2 cents per point via PointsBoost, it means it will cost just 20,000-30,000 Chase points per night.
Once you add the $100 property credit and complimentary breakfast, you could be looking at a pretty darn great deal that is better than most other options and is worth checking before booking your next trip.
Chase Sapphire Reserve: Earn 125,000 bonus points after $6,000 in spending in the first three months. You can use those points for up to $2,500 in travel via Points Boost.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.